Cristiano Ronaldo Says the 2026 World Cup Will Be His Last

Cristiano Ronaldo, one of the most decorated players in the history of global football, said this week that the 2026 World Cup will be the final major tournament of his career. Speaking in Riyadh during a conversation at the Tourise Summit, the 39-year-old forward made it clear that his next appearance on the sport’s biggest stage will also be his last.

“I will be 41 years old,” he said, adding that the 2026 edition is the right moment to close the international chapter of his career. “It feels like the right time. A big competition, a final one.”

Ronaldo, who has spent more than two decades at the highest levels of the sport, reflected on his longevity and the toll of remaining at the top. “I’m enjoying the moment,” he said. “But when I say ‘soon,’ I mean it. I’ve given everything to football.”

His record is difficult to overstate. Ronaldo is the all-time leading scorer in men’s international football with 143 goals and remains the only player to score in five different World Cups. He has played in more tournaments, broken more scoring records and outlasted more rivals than most athletes could imagine.

“I’ve been in the game 25 years,” he said. “I did everything. I’m proud of what I achieved — at clubs, at the national team, everywhere.”

The 2026 World Cup, which expands to 48 teams for the first time, will be held across the United States, Mexico and Canada beginning June 11. Portugal’s path will become clearer after the official draw on December 5 in Washington, D.C.

Ronaldo also spoke about his son, Cristiano Jr., who plays in Portugal’s under-16 system. The forward said he hopes the teenager charts his own course in football and avoids the weight of carrying his father’s name.

“People always compare,” Ronaldo said. “But as a father, I want him to be happy and free of pressure. If one day he becomes better than me, I won’t be jealous. I’ll be proud.”

For now, Ronaldo continues to play with the same insistence that defined his prime, even as the end of his international story approaches. The 2026 World Cup may close a chapter, but the impact of his career — on Portugal, on European football, and on the global stage — is unlikely to fade soon.